The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-03-17
THE LEAK IN THE CHURCH OIL

in his own time and his own way. One
Saturday afternoon he was sent to the
store for oil. His mother said
''Go straight there. Johnnie. and
don't stop anywhere"
Johnnie promised, but on the way he
met Nicholas Barnes, called for short
"Nick." He was new boy in town.
and had several times made a great
deal Of trouble for his folks. Johnnie
had promised not to have any thing to
do with Nick.
But Nick had met Johnnie a few days
before. and offered him some candy.
Johnnie took it. saying to himself:
"Nick is not SO bad as some people
think"
This time Nick met him as if he had
been an old friend, asking. "Where
you goinge'
"Store for OIL" replied Johnnie.
"All that for oile" replied Nick.
"Yes."
mo change back? Not red, John
niee"
"EOt q red." answered Johnnie.
Nick thought moment, then he be-
gan to talk Of something different.
when We going to have some choco-
late crcamse"
Johnnie's mouth xatered, for he was
very fond Of that kind Of confection-
cry. He sighed rs he said: "Dun-no;
money is scarce down our way"
They were now nearing the church.
"Let's sit down here on the Old
South steps and talk it over," said
Nick. "Let's sec. treated on choco-
late last time, now its your turn"
Johnnie had not thought of that
when he accepted half the contents Of
the candy bag! For the first time it
dawned upon him that Nick would ex-
pect him TO return she compliment.
He said: II dunno when it'll be. Nick.
Pas sold one Of his horses cause be
was short FOR money; he's going 10
make one do all the work. so l don't
think I'll get much spending money
this summer"
Suddenly queer look came over
Nick's face. He spoke quickly but in
o low tone.
"You just keep still a minute, JOIN.
ME, I'll tell you something"
He dashed away thout giving any
information. Johnnie kept "still''
until he was tired of it; and was about
starting for the store when Nick ap.
peared, very much excited.
L. 90 L.
some chocolates to-day"
"How SOP"
"It came into my head Just now
when soc the old sexton going down
into tho graveyard" said Nick. "He's
left the church open, the cellar doors
unlocked and there's n whole barrel OF
Kerosene in there ~
As the plan flashed upon Johnnie's
mind, his face grew very red. Nick
did not seem to notice this and went
on:
Lets fill the can. who'll know the
| difference? l guess two quarts of oil
wont kill nobody"
Johnnie was greatly shocked, but be-
fore he could speak Nick had disap
peared with the can. When he re-
turned it was full. He passed it to
Johnnie, who shrank back.
II can't take the oil Nick; it dom
belong to me. It's stealing"
"Stcalingp Oh, no." said Nick
slowly. snow you look here. this oi
belongs to the parish, and your pa il
one of them. So youse part of th'
oil is his'n."
He stopped suddenly with look o
! fright, the old sexton was returning
Evidently Nick thought his argumen
would not convince him, for he sail
hurricdly:
1T won't do for us to hang arount
here any longer; he'll know the who'll
thing. Let's hide the can and hav'
some fun up town.
As they went. Nick seeing that John
ME did not feel right about it said:
"Thc South Church folks are rich a
mud. An old feller died here once, ant
left them piles of money to run thing
with. So this oil don't come out O
them. 1t won't hurt them to give us
little once In awhile. rs longs they 60
whole barrel. II the sexton dom
lock up the celia" I'm going to fiji
mothers can."
By this time the boys had arrived a
the store. Soon their pockets were full
of chocolates. Johnnie did not enjo,
them SO much as usual, he began t.
feel sick. This was soon explained
away by the bad boy He said SOM
of the oil OH their hands had got ol
the candy; and he was feeling vcr.
much the same, which was some com
fort.
| That night Johnnie was very i'll, ant
tossed sleeplessly in his little bed
Somehow he did not want to call hi
mother. neither did he feel like sayinl
his prayers. He was not alarmed a
his sickness, for what Nick had sal
about the oil seemed reasonable. Otto
he turnod his pillow aud closed his eyes
saying:
| "Of course. every body knows kerc
sene oil and chocolate creams won
mix!"
| But this did not appease his stomac
~ hh sonpcionoe. and Rive sleop. II